Ice bunker



Jan. 24, 1939.l H.`A, GLENN 2,145,080

ICE BUNKER Filed July 29, 1936 I Sheets-Sheet l jfow/zc/g, len/L Jan. 24, 1939. H. -A GLENN 2,145,080

` ICE BUNKER Filed July 29, 193e s sheets-sheet 3 a Ml l'ilu Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IcE BUNKER Howard A. Glenn, Chicago, Ill. Application July 29, 1936, Serial No. 93,208 9 Claims. (Cl. 62-19) This invention relates to railway freight cars, and more particularly the ice bunkers therefor.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of new and improved construction for ice bunkers for railway cars.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved ice bunker construction for railway cars having novel means for assembling the bunker within the car.

A further object of the invention is the provision of new and improved ice bunker construction having novel means for supporting the same, together with novel means for adjustably supporting the sections of the bottom wall.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved bulkhead for the bunker comprising a unitary structure that may be installed as a unit.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved ice bunker construction that is inexpensive to manufacture, efficient in use, and that may be readily installed at a minimum of time, labor and expense.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a transverse section of a railway car showing the invention in position on one end thereof;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the front of inner wall of the bunker in condition to be inserted in position in the car.

In refrigerator cars employing ice as a cooling medium it is common practice to employ ice bunkers at each end of the car. These bunkers are built into the car, and are usually supported from. the licor of the car. This arrangement requires considerable time for installation, and necessitates the use of supports for engaging intermediate portions of the iioor. Pans for draining the water from the melted ice from the bunkers were placed on the floor beneath the bunkers outwardly of these bunker supports.

In modern refrigerator cars it is common practice to lower the temperature of the lading or cargo, especially if it consists of green vegetables and the like, by blowing or discharging large quantities of ground or chipped ice on and among the vegetables, and the melting of the ice will rapidly lower the temperature of the mass to a point where the air circulating through the car and bunkers will maintain a suiiiciently low temperaa pan practically coextensve with the floor inl0= volves problems of support for the bunkers not found in the older constructions. It is desirable that none of the bunker supports rest on this pan, as otherwise these supports would in time wear or tear holes or rents in this pan and cause the same 15' to leak, resulting in wetting the floor and insulation beneath the same. The wetting of the insulation would, of course, very materially lower the insulating properties of the insulation employed.

The present invention seeks to remedy these 20 difliculties by the provision of a preformed construction that may be readily assembled and installed in the car.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character Il) designates a conventional railway 25 car or car body having side walls II, bottom wall or oor I2, and a top wall or roof I3. The roof is provided with a conventional hatch and cover 20, through which ice is supplied to the bunker in the usual way. The floor is provided with a 30 waterproof material which extends over the entire floor and has its upturned edges secured to the ends and side walls of the car. For convenience of description it will be termed a pan, and is so arranged that it will conduct the water from 35 the melting ice to a proper drain, as is common in such constructions.

The side and end walls are constructed in the usual manner for refrigerator cars, and have insulating material I4 inserted between the inner 40 sheathing I5, and the outer sheathing I6, of the side and end walls, as is usual in such constructions. The top and bottom walls are also provided with suitable insulation in the usual manner. Since the details of the construction of the car 45 structure constitute no part of the present invention, it is not thought necessary to further illustrate or describe the same.

' A bunker constituting the subject-matter of the present invention is mounted in each end of the 50 car. Since these bunkers are duplicates only one need be described. Secured to each of the side walls II, at a distance spaced from the floor I2. is a ange member I'I, which, in the construction shown, is in the form of a channel bar having the 55.y

flanges I8 extending inwardly. These channels are attached to the car in any suitable manner. As shown, they are connected to the side frame of the car by suitable bolts. The bunker is supported by these bars. The outer ends of these bars are attached to the frame of the car end by brackets 80. By means of this arrangement the bunker will be firmly held from moving lengthwise of the car during either buff or draft, whereby the thrusts against the bunker construction by the weight of the freight and weight of the ice will be transferred to both the end and side frame of the car adjacent the lower portions thereof. f

Resting on the iianges I8, and extending across the car at the rear thereof, is an angle bar I9 (Fig. 2), having its horizontal flange 2I rigidly connected to the flange I8 of the channel I1, as by means of bolts 22, or other suitable fastening members, see Figs. 1 and 2.

Mounted on the inner side of the end of the car, and extending upwardly between the angle bar I9 and the end of the car, are a plurality of upright frame or spacer members 23, which are rigidly attached in any suitable manner to the ends of the car. Mounted on the flange I8 of the channels I1 at each side of the car are a plurality of upstanding frame or spacer members 24, which are rigidly connected to the sides of the car in any suitable manner. The upright members 23 and 24 constitute the frame members for the sides and outer end of the bunker, to which the wire mesh is attached, as will presently appear. These spacer members also constitute air spaces between the walls of the bunker and the walls of the car.

Extending parallel with the sides and the end of the car, and secured to the inner sides of the uprights or standards 23, 24, is a wire screen 25 of heavy wire and coarse mesh, which constitutes the sides and ends of the bunker. YThis screen may be in sections, or constructed as a one piece, four-sided structure, and constitutes the inner wall of the bunker for confining the ice within the bunker.

The inner bulkhead or inner end of the bunker is constructed as a single unit frame construction or front wall 30, whereby the same may be readily inserted in position in the car after the posts 23, 24 and 29, and the Wire screen 25, have been attached. This unit comprises the intermediate uprights 26, and the horizontal bars or flanged members 21 and 32 (Figs. 2 and 4). VThe uprights 26 are attached at their lower ends to the vertical flange of a horizontal bar or flanged member or angle bar 21, and at their upper ends to the other horizontal bar or anged member 32, which may be an inverted channel. These parts are connected in any suitable manner, but Vpreferably they are welded in order that a rigid unit may be provided. The bar 21 has a laterally eX-Y tending horizontal flange 28 (Fig. 2).

At each end of the unit is an angle bar upright 29 (Fig. 3), which is adapted to be detachably connected at its lower end to the car frame, as shownV at 3I (Fig. 3), and to the flanged member or angle bar 21 (Fig. 2). These bars may also be channel bars, if desired. While they are shown as being detachably attached to the bulkhead unit 3), it is understood that they are preferably rigidly attached to the sides of the car, and the unit 30 attached thereto, when the parts are assembled.

The inverted channel bar 32 (Fig. 4) has detachably attached thereto at each end a bracket 33, as at 40 (Fig. 4). The flanges of the uprights 29 'are preferably bolted toa downwardly extending flange of the member 32, as shown at 50. The brackets 33 are adapted to be detachably attached, as at 34, to the car frame (Figs. 1 and 2) for securing the upper end of the bulkhead against movement longitudinally of the car. A sheathing of wood 35, or other suitable material, is attached to the uprights 28 and 29 for constitut-ing the bulkhead or partition wall. This sheathing is preferably, though not necessarily, applied after the unit is secured in position. The sheathing constitutes a partition for causing circulation of air, and also constitutes an abutment for the lading during buff and draft. This 'sheathing terminates at a point spaced below the bar. 32, and a wire screen 1B is secured in position in this space by T-bolts or other means (see Fig. 2).

The unit 3D has attached thereto, above its lower end, a flanged member or angle bar 36 (Fig. 2) which extends horizontally across the bunker and has a laterally extending flange 31`for constituting a support for the sections of the bottom wall of the bunker in elevated position, as will presently appear. A similar bar 38 is attached to the uprights 23 at substantially the same height asV the bar 36, for assisting in supporting the bottom walls of the bunker in anelevated position. At suitable intervals the bars 36 and 38, which may be commercial angle irons, are provided with gusset partitions; 39 and 4I, whichare vertically spaced from similar gussets 42 and 43 on the angle bars I9 and 21, respectively. These gussets not only reinforce the angle bars, but also form partitions between the bunker sections.

The unit 33, before the sheathing 35 is applied, may be galvanized as a unit, so that all joints will be closed against the entrance of salt water, thereby preventing rusting of the unit.

The bottom wall of the" bunker is divided into independent units or sections, each of which comprises a plate 44, having perforations 45 for permitting the escape of water from the bunker. These sections are separated from each other when in position by the gussets above described. These gussets prevent the individual sections from moving laterallyabove or below the adjacent sections.

If desired suitable supports 46 (Fig. 1) may be placed beneath the channel bars I1 for relieving the attaching bolts from shear. Other blocks 60 may be provided beneath the rear angle bar I9 for the same purpose. Suitable brackets 41 may be secured between the end of the car structure and the front unit at intervals for reinforcing the the bunker frame structure, and for tying the bunker to the end wall of the car. These braces will resist thrusts against the bunker incident to the sudden movement of the car as a result of buff or pull.

In assembling the device the channel members I1, the uprights 29, and the spacers or supporting posts 23, 24, are attached to the car and then the wire mesh container is inserted in position Yand fastened therein, after which the angle bars I9, 38, are attached and the parts secured to the end wall of the car. The front wall unit 30 or bulkhead is then placed in position, with the bar resting on and connected to the channel bars I1, and further secured by attaching the brackets 33 (as at 34) and the angle bars 21 and 32 to the uprights 29. The angle bar 33 is then secured in position. The bottom wall or floor sections 44 may then be placed in position, either on the lower brackets 21 and I9 or ontheupper brackets 36, 38, as desired.

Y When light loads are hauled, or when the weather is such that a small quired, the bottom units 44 the upper brackets. Y

It will thus be seen that the bunker may be readily and easily installed, and when installed will be supported independently of the floor. Furthermore, there will be no standards or supports resting on the oor for interfering with the free flow of water from the melting ice into the sump or drain, nor will there be any danger of wearing holes. in the pan and permitting the floor insulation to become Wet.

It is thought from the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings that the construction and operation of my device will be apparent tc those skilled in the art and that changes in size, shape, proportion and details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my inventionl. In a railway car having a body portion, an ice bunker in one end of said body portion, said body portion having a pan of waterproof material coextensive with the door of said car, a pair of flanged bars secured to the side walls of said car above said pan, a forward and a rear angle bar supported on said anged bars, a front wall secured to said front `angle bar, a channel bar secured to the upper edge of said front wall, brackets secured in said channel bar and secured to the side walls of said car, said flanged bars constituting the sole means for supporting said forward angle bar, vertical side ,and end posts secured to said flanged and angle bars, a wire mesh secured to said posts and front wall, a second pair of angle bars secured to said posts at the front and rear of said bunker in vertically spaced relation to said first-named angle bars and parallel therewith, triangular partition plates secured to said angle bars, a plurality of floor sections insertible between said plates either on said first-named angle bars o-r on said second pair of angle bars between the plates thereon.

2. In a railway car having a iioor, side and end walls, a pan member coextensive with the door of the car, anged members secured to the side walls vertically spaced above said pan member and extending lengthwise of the-car, a flanged bar supported on the outer ends of saidanged members, upright frame members supported by said flanged bar and anged members, a metal screen secured to said frame members, a unit front wall including a hanged bar supported solely by said flanged members, ice supporting bottom wall sections supported by said iianged bars, a second pair of iianged bars for supporting said bottom wall sections in elevated position, and means for rigidly securing said second pair of flanged bars to said unit and certain of said frame members, respectively.

3. In a railway car having a floor, side and end walls, flanged members secured to the side walls of the car adjacent an end thereof vertically spaced above the iioor, anangle bar supported on the outer ends of said flanged members, a unit front wall supported on the inner ends of said flanged members, said unit having upstanding posts, .an inverted channel bar secured to said ammintf'iee' is Tre: may be mounted on posts, means for detachably connecting the unit' to said anged members, and means carried by said channel bar for removably connecting saidA unit to the body of said car.

4. In a freight car having a body provided with a floor, end and side walls, a channel bar secured to each side wall, spaced from the oor adjacent one end ofthe car, a bunker structure supported from said bars, said structure comprising a front wall member assembled as a unitary structure having a lower angle bar lprovided with a horizontal flange, said bar being supported solely byl said channel bars, means for detachably securing the horizontal ange of said angle bar to saidchannel bars, an angle bar supported by the outer ends of said channel bars, a floor for said bunker structure supported on said angle bars, and bracket means for detachably connecting the upper corners ofi said front wall member to the car body.

5; Inan ice bunker, a unitary front wall comprising a, lower angle bar, an upper inverted channel bar, upright channel members connected at their lower ends to the Vertical flange of said angle bar and attached at their upper ends to the anges of said inverted channel member, an upright angle bar at each end of said wall connected to a flange of said inverted channel bar, and a flange of said lower angle bar, attaching br-ackets extending into the ends of said channel bar and detachably engaging the web of said inverted channel bar and having an attaching portion extending upwardly therefrom for attachment to the car body,fand a wooden sheathing secured to the anges of said lower angle bar, channel members and upright angle bars exteriorly of said upright members and bars.

6. In a railway freight car, a flanged bar secured to each side wall of the car at one end thereof, said bars having iianges arranged in a horizontal plane spaced from the floor of the car, an ice bunker supported on said bars, said bunker comprising a pair of cross bars extending across the front and rear of said bunker at the lower edges thereof and supported on said flanged bars, said cross bars having horizontal flanges extending inwardly toward each other and rigidly connected to the horizontal anges of said anged bars, another pair of cross bars extending across the front and rear of said bunker in a horizontal plane above said first-named bars, said last-named cross bars having opposed horizontal flanges, reinforcing gussets at intervals along said cross bars, the gussets on the upper pair of cross bars being the same distance apart as those on the lower pair and in the same vertical plane, and iioor sections loosely supported on one pair of said bars between said gussets and movable to a position to be supported by the other pair of bars between the gussets thereon.

7 In a freight car having a body provided with end and side walls, an ice bunker vin one end thereof comprising bars each having a horizontal flange, rigidly attached to each side of the cil.

car adjacent one end thereof and spaced fromb the floor of said car, means for rigidly connecting the ends of said bars to the end wall of said car, a lower angle member extending across the end of said car and supported on said bars, van upper angle member secured to the end Wall of said car parallel to said member and vertically spaced therefrom, a bulkhead supported on said bars and having upper and lower angle members in the same horizontal planes as said firstnamed upper and lower angle members, respectively, means for connecting said bulkhead to said bars and car body, a four-sided Wire container, means for supporting the same between said bulkhead and sides and end walls of said car, wooden panels removably mounted on said lower angle members and adapted tobe removed-and supported on said upper angle members. Y

8. In a railway car having a body portion, a bunker in each end of said car, each bunker comprising horizontal bars rigidly connected to the sides of said body and spaced from the floor thereof, a load supporting bar resting on the outer ends of said` horizontal bars and rigidly se- Cured thereto, vertical posts secured to said horizontal bars, a unitary bulkhead detachably connested to said horizontal bars and. vertical posts and supported solely from its ends and spaced vertically from the iioor of the car, said bulkhead comprising upper and lower horizontal members, 

